| Manufacturer | quattro GmbH[1] (a private subsidiary of Audi AG) |
|---|---|
| Production | 2006–present, 9,945 built in the end of 2008[2][3] |
| Assembly | Neckarsulm, Germany |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 2-door coupé (2007) 2-door spyder (2009) |
| Layout | Longitudinal mid-engine,[4] quattro permanent all-wheel drive[4] |
| Engine | 4.2 L FSI V8, 2×DOHC; 5.2 L FSI V10, 2×DOHC[5] |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual 7-speed R Tronic |
| Wheelbase | 2,650 mm (104.3 in)[4] |
| Length | V8 Coupé: 4,431 mm (174.4 in),[4] V10 Coupé: 4,435 mm (174.6 in),[4] V10 Spyder: 4,434 mm (174.6 in)[4] |
| Width | V8 Coupé & V10 Spyder: 1,904 mm (75.0 in),[4] V10 Coupé: 1,930 mm (76.0 in)[4] |
| Height | V8 Coupé: 1,249 mm (49.2 in),[4] V10 Coupé: 1,252 mm (49.3 in),[4] V10 Spyder: 1,244 mm (49.0 in)[4] |
| Kerb weight | V8 Coupé: 1,560–1,565 kg (3,439–3,450 lb),[4] V10 Coupé: 1,620–1,625 kg (3,571–3,583 lb),[4] V10 Spyder: 1,720–1,725 kg (3,792–3,803 lb)[4] |
| Related |
Audi RSQ |
The Audi R8[4] (Typ 42)[6] is a mid-engine, 2-seater sports car,[4][7] which uses Audi's trademark quattro permanent all-wheel drive system.[4][8] It was introduced by the German automaker Audi AG in 2006.
The car was exclusively designed, developed, and manufactured by Audi AG's high performance private subsidiary company, quattro GmbH, and is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform.[9] The fundamental construction of the R8 is based on the Audi Space Frame,[4] and uses an aluminium monocoque which is built around space frame principles. The car is built by quattro GmbH in a newly renovated factory at Audi's 'aluminium site' at Neckarsulm in Germany.[4]
In 2005, Audi announced that the name of the successful Audi R8 race car would be used for a new road car in 2007, the Audi R8, based on the Audi Le Mans quattro concept car, appearing at the 2003 International Geneva Motor Show, and 2003 Frankfurt International Motor Show. The R8 road car was officially launched at the Paris Auto Show on 30 September 2006. There was some confusion with the name, which the car shares with the 24 Hours of Le Mans winning R8 Le Mans Prototype (LMP). 6-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx described the R8 as "the best handling road car today".[10] The Audi R8 is used as a safety car in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and British Superbike Championship racing series.
The R8 is due to be replaced with a brand new model in calendar year 2014.[11] The highest output version of Audi's new 4.0 liter V8 twin-turbocharged engine is expected to power the new car. This engine is scheduled to be previewed as a detuned version in the 2012 Audi S8—with 518 hp (386 kW) on tap. In the R8 application it is expected to produce about 600 hp. Combined with an approximate 200 lb (91 kg) weight loss, the new R8 is expected to compete well with the new Porsche 997 twin turbo model and will likely perform significantly better than the current R8 GT with a 0–60 mph time in 3.2 seconds and a quarter mile in less than 11 seconds. A dual clutch automated gearbox will be offered for the first time.
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To produce the R8 at quattro GmbH, seventy workers fit 5,000 unique parts by hand. The factory at Neckarsulm, redeveloped at a cost of €28 million, usually produces between eight and fifteen cars a day, up to a maximum daily output of 29 cars.[4] Ninety-five lasers inspect the entire car in five seconds to ensure that over 220 measurements are within 0.1 millimetres of the programmed plans.[12] The two-seat coupé is currently available in Bahrain, Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Africa.[13] The R8 Spyder23, an open-top roadster model, followed in 2009. In Latin America, the R8 became available at the end of 2008 at dealers in Mexico City, Bogota, Medellin, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Lima, Santiago and Santo Domingo. Customers bought every unit available for 2008 within a week[14] after the R8 premiered at the Bogota International Auto Show and Auto Expo of Medellin.
| Production | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2005[15] | 2006[15] | 2007[16] | 2008 | 2009[17] | 2010[18] | Total |
| Units | 6 | 164 | 4,125 | 5,656 | 2,101 | 3,485 | 15,537 |
In Asia, the R8 is available in Bahrain, India, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong and Vietnam, and has been available in China, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia since 2008.
The Audi R462956 was initially equipped with a 4.2 litre V8 engine. Specifically, it is an all-aluminium alloy 32-valve (four valves per cylinder) petrol engine,[4] utilising Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI),[4] and has a displacement of 4,163 cubic centimetres (254.0 cu in).[4] It develops a motive power output of 420 metric horsepower (309 kW; 414 bhp) (Directive 80/1269/EEC),[4] and generates 430 newton metres (317 ft·lbf) of torque,[4] on 98 RON 'Super Unleaded' petrol. It is basically the same engine used in the Audi B7 RS4, but is modified to use dry sump lubrication system. This V8 is a highly reworked, high-revving variant of the existing 4.2 litre V8, but includes cylinder-direct fuel injection (Fuel Stratified Injection), and four valves per cylinder, instead of five (as used on the previous non-FSI variants). It also uses two chain-driven double overhead camshafts (DOHC) per cylinder bank, and utilises variable valve timing for both inlet and exhaust camshafts. The 4 wheel drive system is bias towards the rear, it only sends 30% of its power to the front wheels and the other 70% to the rear which means impressive handling.
The transmission options are either a Lamborghini sourced six-speed manual gearbox with metal gate for the shift lever, or an Audi-developed R tronic[4] gearbox—which is a semi-automatic, without a traditional clutch pedal with automatic gears shifting mode.[7][19] These options are the same as those available on the Lamborghini Gallardo. A double clutch direct-shift gearbox (DSG), now badged by Audi as S tronic, is not available (as of April 2010[update]).
On July 1, 2010 Autocar reported that Audi has added the 4.2 FSI V8 engine to the R8 Spyder range. The 434 PS (319 kW; 428 bhp) (up 14 bhp on coupé), 430 newton metres (317 ft·lbf) unit now completes the R8 Spyder range alongside the launch V10 powerplant. It has a 0-62 mph (0–100 km/h) time of 4.8sec and will go on to reach a top speed of 185 mph (299 km/h). The engine is available with Audi's R tronic sequential manual gearbox. Like the V10 model, the V8 Spyder features an aluminium spaceframe with carbon composites and an automatic retractable folding cloth roof.
Audi AG unveiled the Audi R8 V10 on 9 December 2008. It uses a 5.2 litre FSI engine,[4] based on the unit in the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 (which in turn was based on the 5.2 FSI V10 as used in the Audi C6 S6 and Audi D3 S8), but is re-tuned to produce a power output of 525 metric horsepower (386 kW; 518 bhp), and generate 530 newton metres (391 ft·lbf) of torque.[4][5] Compared to the V8 variant, the R8 V10's performance numbers are enhanced. Audi states the new 0 to 100 kilometres per hour (0 to 62.1 mph) time as only 3.9 seconds,[4] 60 to 124 miles per hour (97 to 200 km/h) in 8.1 seconds, and a top speed of 317 kilometres per hour (197.0 mph).[4] Other changes to the V10 version of the R8 include some aesthetic differences: such as all-LED headlights (a world-first),[4] interior enhancements such as Bang & Olufsen 465 watt sound system,[4] and a more aggressive body styling,[20] larger rear brakes and unique roadwheels.[4] It was initially thought that this version of the R8 was going to have the same engine as the C6 Audi RS6, a 5.0 litre V10 TFSI twin-turbo engine, which produces 580 metric horsepower (427 kW; 572 bhp). However, some components of the twin-turbo system overheated, and one prototype was destroyed by fire at the Nürburgring.[21] This model was shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.
Although it was rumoured by the automotive press since the announcement of the production R8 in 2006, it was only in August 2008 that spy shots of a convertible R8 'Spider' from filming scenes of the movie Iron Man 2 were published online, which included a "soft-top" roof is clearly visible, and the unique sideblade has been removed.[22] The vehicle was unveiled in 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.[23] Compared with the coupé model, the convertible will have extra chassis support, a pair of roll-over safety bars, as well as minor changes such as the location of the fuel tank filler. It will be powered by a 5.2 FSI V10 engine.
Released in May 2010 the £142,585 R8 GT is the fastest Audi to date. The curb weight has been reduced by 100 kg (220 lb) to 1,525 kg (3,362 lb). The power from the V10 FSI has also been increased to 560 PS (412 kW; 552 bhp) which gives the car 367 PS (270 kW; 362 bhp) per ton. Because of these changes the R8 GT has a top speed of 199 mph (320 km/h) and goes from 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, 0.3 faster than the R8 V10. The car also features some visual changes including red brake caliper covers, a fixed rear wing, front bumper mounted winglets and GT badges replacing the V10 ones. Only 333 Audi R8 GTs will be made and 33 will be sent to the UK, while 90 will be sent to the US.
It is a limited (333 units) production vehicle that combines the improvements in R8 GT with convertible body. German model went on sale for base price of €207,800.[24]
The vehicle was unveiled in 2011 at Le Mans.[25]
The Audi e-tron concept car was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show. Similar in appearance to the R8, but slightly smaller, it is powered by four independent electric motors,[26] two mounted within the centre of the front axle and the other two within the rear axle, each produces 79 PS (58 kW; 78 bhp) and 1,125 newton metres (830 ft·lbf) of torque. It produces a total of 317 PS (233 kW; 313 bhp) and a sceptical 4,500 newton metres (3,319 ft·lbf) of torque. However the proposed torque rating is the torque measured at the wheels, not at the output shaft—as is the industry standard, the true torque rating being around 678 newton metres (500 ft·lbf).
The prototype version of the R8 e-tron sticks closely to the original concept with a shape reminiscent of existing V8 and V10 petrol powered versions. Audi claims the production version of the R8 e-tron will be capable of a 0–100 km/h (62 mph) time of around 4.8 seconds, making it only 0.2 seconds slower than the R8 V8. Initial plans call for its top speed to be limited to 124 mph (200 km/h) to protect the charge of the battery. It is planned for launch in early 2012.
Along with the R8 e-tron, Audi is also considering small scale production of a smaller and lighter zero emission sportscar based around the second e-tron concept displayed at the 2010 Detroit Motor Show.
Journalists at a tech demonstration at Audi's lightweight research and production plant in Neckarsulm, Germany were shown a teaser of an upcoming supercar, codenamed “NF” that will feature even greater usage of lightweight composites.
The vehicle identified as R8 NF was featured on a timeline showing the creation of carbon-fiber in vehicles such as the R8 and highlighted the carbon-fiber engine cover on the R8 Spyder, the roof of the R8 e-tron and a collection of pieces found on the R8 GT.
At the 2014 mark was the R8 NF, or more specifically, the passenger section. The image implied that the NF would feature a new carbon-fiber rear bulkhead between the seat backs and the engine compartment and showed the carbon-fiber piece extending into the lower B-pillar. Audi would not elaborate on the image, however, they said the prototype is up 20% (325 kg (720 lb) lighter than an aluminum-bodied R8.[27]
| Models | R8 4.2 FSI quattro[28] | R8 5.2 FSI quattro[29] | R8 GT[30] | R8 e-tron[31][32] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | |||||||||
| Configuration | V8 32 valve 2×DOHC | V10 40 valve 2×DOHC | 4×asynchronous Electric motors, 53 kWh (42.4 kWh usable) lithium-ion battery | ||||||
| Displacement | 4,163 cc (4.163 L; 254.0 cu in) | 5,204 cc (5.204 L; 317.6 cu in) | - | ||||||
| Power @ rpm | 430 PS (316 kW; 424 bhp)@7900 | 525 PS (386 kW; 518 bhp)@8000 | 560 PS (412 kW; 552 bhp)@8000 | 313 PS (230 kW; 309 bhp)@n/a | |||||
| Torque @ rpm | 430 N·m (317 lb·ft)@4500-6000 | 530 N·m (391 lb·ft)@6500 | 540 N·m (398 lb·ft)@6500 | 4,500 N·m (3,319 lb·ft)@n/a | |||||
| Performance | |||||||||
| 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) (sec) | 4.6 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.8 | |||||
| 0 to 200 km/h (120 mph) (sec) | 14.9 | 11.8 | 10.8 | n/a | |||||
| 1⁄4 miles (0.40 km) (sec) | 12.5 | 11.5 | 11.5 | n/a | |||||
| Top speed | 302 km/h (187.65 mph) | 316 km/h (196.35 mph) | 320 km/h (198.84 mph) | 200 km/h (124.27 mph) | |||||
| Dimensions & Weight | |||||||||
| Length,
Width, Height |
L: 4,431 mm (174.4 in), W: 1,904 mm (75.0 in), H: 1,252 mm (49.3 in) | L: 4,434 mm (174.6 in), W: 1,930 mm (76 in), H: 1,252 mm (49.3 in) | n/a | n/a | |||||
| Curb weight (R-tronic, manual -5kg) | 1,565 kg (3,450.23 lb) (MY2012: 1,640 kg (3,615.58 lb)) | 1,625 kg (3,582.51 lb) (MY2012: 1,700 kg (3,747.86 lb)) | 1,525 kg (3,362.05 lb) | ~1,600 kg (3,527.40 lb) | |||||
| Models | Type |
|---|---|
| R8 4.2 FSI quattro | 6-speed manual, 6-speed R-tronic |
| R8 5.2 FSI quattro | 6-speed manual, 6-speed R-tronic |
| R8 GT | 6-speed manual, 6-speed R-tronic |
| R8 e-tron | ? |
As Volkswagen Group owns both Audi and Lamborghini (Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.), some of the R8 is shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo, including some of the chassis and floorpan, door handle mechanisms, transmissions, and the revised V10 engine. The R8 is made distinct by its Germanic exterior styling, cabin, smaller V8 engine, magnetic dampers, and pricing.
The R8 (with the V8 engine) has a curb weight of 1,560 kilograms (3,439 lb).[4] Its suspension uses BWI Group's[33] magneto rheological dampers.[34]
Safety features include Bosch ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme [4] which includes Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL),[4] front dual-stage airbags, and 'sideguard' curtain airbags.[35] The R8 also features a distinctive curved bar of LED daytime running lamps (DRLs) mounted insided the xenon HID headlamp casings.
The R8, like most mid- or rear-engine designed sports cars, utilises wider roadwheels and tyres on its rear axle. For the 18 inch alloy wheels (on standard summer tyres), there is just one range of sizes—the fronts are sized at 8.5J×18H2 ET42, whilst the rears are two inches wider at 10.5Jx18H2 ET50. With the 19 inch wheels (standard fit in most markets), the theme continues—the fronts are all 8.5J×19H2 ET42, and the rears are 11.0Jx19H2 ET50.[4] 19" wheels for the winter tyre package have a ½" narrower rear compared to the summer tyre wheel package. There is also a corresponding difference in tyre sizes—18's are 235/40 ZR18 95Y XL (eXtra Load) up front and 285/35 ZR18 101Y XL at the rear. For the 19" tyres, two different options are available—all fronts are 235/35 ZR19 91Y, and the rears are either 295/30 ZR19 100Y XL or 305/30 ZR19 102Y XL.[4] Standard factory supplied tyre makes offered are either Continental SportContact3, or Pirelli P-Zero Rosso.
For 2009, Audi announced the production of an R8 LMS racing car, designed for the GT3 rules in the FIA GT3 European Championship and various national racing series. Known within Audi Sport as the 'R16', the R8 LMS features a 500 PS (368 kW; 493 bhp) V10 engine. Because the GT3 regulations prohibit the use of four-wheel drive, Audi had to drop its 'trademark' quattro four-wheel drive system, and the R8 LMS is only available with the typical rear-wheel drive setup. The torque is transmitted via a newly developed six-speed sequential sports gearbox. Despite the development of the car, Audi itself had stated not to enter any races with the new GT3 car as an official 'factory' team.[36] The car was unveiled at Essen Motor Show.[37] The first Audi R8 LMS (chassis number 101) was delivered to Audi Sport Italia in 2009.[38] In the 2009 24 Hours Nürburgring, and preceding VLN endurance races, Audi privateer teams had entered four cars, operated by the Abt Sportsline and Nürburging-based Phoenix race teams. Until the 19th hour, two of these R8 remained challengers for the lead, against two Manthey-operated Porsche GT3 in the same lap, before the leading #99 car[39] suffered suspension problems. The #97 finished 2nd,[40] and despite electrical and gearbox problems, the other two cars finished 23rd or better. Australian Mark Eddy participated in the 2010 Australian GT Championship with the first R8 LMS in the Southern Hemisphere.[41] In the 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring, the first four spots on the grid were occupied by Audi R8.
Audi's Le Mans 24 Hour team, Joest Racing ran a pair of R8 LMS GT3's in the 2011 Bathurst 12 Hour held at the Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia on 6 February 2011. The #7 R8 driven by an all-Australian crew of Mark Eddy, multiple Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff qualified on pole alongside team mates Marc Basseng, Christopher Mies and Darryl O'Young in the #8 car. Bessing, Miles and O'Young won the race from Eddy, Lowndes & Luff by just 0.71 seconds with Lowndes setting the races fastest lap and a new class lap record of 2:09.0861 for the 6.213km long circuit on lap 267 of the 292 ran in the 12 hour time frame.[42] FIA GT3 and Australian GT Championship cars were included in the 12 Hour for the first time in 2011. The race had previously been the domain of Group 3E Series Production Cars.
For 2012, Audi plans to enter the R8 in the Rolex Sports Car Series GT class.
In July 2010 Audi took its EV concept to the Silvretta E-Auto Rally in Austria. The competition is designed to pit the latest and greatest of the electric vehicle world against each other over 10 special stages that cover a total of 104 miles. The company picked Michael Dick, a member of its board for technical development, and Lukas Luhr, a factory race driver, to helm the machine throughout the event. They finished first overall using the R8 e-Tron demonstrator. The winning car is based on the body of a standard R8 V10 coupe and powered by the four-motor electric drive system used in the Frankfurt e-Tron concept.
Many publications were hailing it as the first car to truly be able to beat the Porsche 997 — considered by many to be one of the best sports cars ever made, and a leader in its class.[43] Initial comparison tests have proven quite positive in this respect; Evo Magazine listed it as a "supercar",[44] compared the R8 to the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and BMW M6 and after praising the R8's "amazing stability, traction and grip, unparalleled steering accuracy and bite, (and) its uncannily flat and disturbance-free ride", claimed that as a result of "the sublime effortlessness of it all", the Audi is a better sports car. The article concluded that "Audi humbles Porsche. A new dawn starts today".[45] Other publications have also written similar reviews of the Audi beating the Porsche in comparison tests.[8][46] In a half mile drag race conducted by Battle of the Supercars between the R8 and a 997 Carrera S, the Porsche won, crossing the line just a half metre before the R8. However, the R8 easily beat the Porsche around Top Gear's test track.
The television show Top Gear compared the Nissan GT-R to the R8 V8, and remarked that the R8 was "simultaneously less impressive and yet somehow more involving". On the R8 they wrote that "it rewards driver input", calling it "fantastic in a way that will appeal more to true car enthusiasts", but also remarked that it (the V8 model) was "much slower", and the GT-R was cheaper.[47] On their test track, the car performed better than a Lamborghini Gallardo and an Aston Martin DB9. On Bedford Autodrome, tested by Evo Magazine, the R8 was faster than the Lamborghini Gallardo.
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